The acoustically actuated guidewire system represents a novel technological advancement in medical navigation, employing acoustic energy to achieve precise, controllable bending for enhanced steering within complex anatomical environments.
Description
This technology concerns a guidewire system specifically engineered for use in intricate medical procedures requiring precise navigation through convoluted anatomical pathways, such as endovascular interventions. The central innovation lies in the integration of an acoustic actuation mechanism embedded within the distal section of a flexible guidewire. This actuation system includes a microdevice featuring a cavity and a diaphragm that resonates in response to externally applied acoustic energy. When subjected to this energy, the diaphragm oscillates, generating reactionary forces that induce controlled bending of the guidewire tip. This bending capability facilitates nuanced steering and manipulation of the guidewire, enabling it to traverse tortuous vascular networks with heightened accuracy. The microactuators incorporated into the design augment the flexibility of the guidewire while maintaining structural integrity and responsiveness, enhancing overall maneuverability within confined spaces. The system operates without reliance on traditional mechanical steering components, thereby reducing size constraints and improving operational simplicity.
Applications
- Endovascular procedures requiring navigation of complex vascular pathways.
- Minimally invasive surgical interventions where precise directionality of a guidewire is critical.
- Catheter-based treatments necessitating access to hard-to-reach anatomical sites.
- Diagnostic medical procedures that involve threading instruments through delicate or tortuous canals.
- Potential integration with robotic-assisted systems to improve accuracy and control during interventional surgeries.
Advantages
- Enhanced Steering Precision: Acoustic actuation allows for fine-tuned, responsive bending of the guidewire, surpassing conventional mechanical steering methods in accuracy and agility.
- Miniaturization and Flexibility: The use of microactuators embedded within the guidewire’s distal section minimizes bulk and enhances flexibility, facilitating navigation through narrow or highly contorted anatomical structures.
- Reduced Mechanical Complexity: By leveraging acoustic energy for actuation, the system avoids complex mechanical linkages, potentially increasing durability and reducing manufacturing costs.
- Improved Patient Safety: Precise control minimizes the risk of vessel trauma or accidental perforation during navigation, enhancing procedural outcomes.
-Scalability and Integration Potential: The acoustic actuation mechanism is adaptable for integration with existing medical devices and robotic platforms, broadening its applicability.
- Non-invasive Energy Transmission: The use of acoustic energy enables actuation without direct electrical connections at the distal tip, reducing risks associated with wiring or electromagnetic interference.
Invention Readiness
The technology has been tested in experimental setups where fabricated microdevices were printed using two-photon polymerization (3D printing) and successfully mounted on a beam guidewire. Functional data has been generated demonstrating that these devices can produce microstreaming flows and create reaction forces to bend the guidewire under ultrasound excitation. Studies in phantom microchannels successfully navigated 80-degree and 135-degree vessel branches, confirming the feasibility of the acoustic actuation steering mechanism. Further studies are needed to evaluate the device’s performance in in vivo animal models to confirm efficacy within physiological fluid dynamics and varying blood flow rates.
IP Status
Patent Pending
